Refrigeration



June 1, 1943-.

W. 'CROPPER REFRIGERATION Filed Sept. 25, 1941 INVENT OR.

ATTORND Patented June 1, 1943 REFRIGERATION Walter Cropper, Evansville, Ind., asslgnor to Servel, Inc., New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application September 25, 1941, Serial No. 412,249

9 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigeration, and more particularly to the removel of non-condenslble gases from refrigeration systems.

It has already been proposed to remove noncondensible gases from refrigeration systems by causing such a gas to come in contact with a substance having an afllnity for the gas. The non-condensible gas preferably is removed by causing the gas to react chemically with a suitable substance within the system.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cartridge unit which can be connected to the gas space of a refrigeration system, such unit containing a substance capable of reacting chemically with a non-condensible gas which may accumulate in the system. More particularly, it is an object to provide such a cartridge unit in which the substance to which free access of gas is permitted is in sheet-like form and a number of such sheets are rigidly stacked in spaced relation, so that the resulting chemical reaction is readily effected without appreciably blocking flow of gas past the sheets which are perforated.

The invention, together with the above and other objects and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification and of which:

Fig. l more or less diagrammatically illustrates a refrigeration system in which the invention is embodied;

, Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical sectional view of the cartridge unit show in Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a horizontal plan view of the cartridge unit shown in Figs. 1 and 3.

7 Referring to Fig. 1, the present invention is embodied in a two-pressure absorption refrigeration system like that described in applicationserial No. 239,762 of A. R. Thomas and P. P. Anderson, Jr., filed November 10, 1938, now Patent No. 2,282,503 granted May 12, 1942. A system of this type operates at low pressures and includes a generator It, a condenser I I, an evaporator I2 and an absorber II which are interconnected in such a manner'that the pressure differential in the system is maintained by liquid columns.

The disclosure in the aforementioned Thomas and Anderson application may be considered as being incorporated in this application, and, if desired, reference may be made thereto for a detailed description of the" refrigeration system. In Fig. 1 the generator It includes an outer shell II within which are disposed a plurality of riser tubes I8 having the lower ends thereof communicating with a space H, and the upper ends thereof extending into and above the bottom of a vessel It.

The space within shell I! and surrounding the tubes It forms a chamber Is to which steam is supplied through a conduit 20. The chamber It provides for full length heating of the tubes It with the top part of the chamber being vented at 2I to atmosphere. A conduit 22 is connected to the bottom part of shell It for draining condensat from chamber I9.

The system operates at a partial vacuum and may contain a water solution of refrigerant in absorption liquid, such as, for. example, a water solution of lithium chloride or lithium bromide or a suitable mixture of the salts. With steam being supplied to chamber it through conduit 20 at atmospheric pressure, heat is applied to tubes ll whereby water vapor is expelled from solution, such expelled vapor serving as the refrigerant and being effective to raise liquid absorbent by gas or vapor-lift action. The expelled vapor passes from the upper ends of tubes I8 into the vessel I2, and thence flows through a conduit 23 into condenser II in which the expelled vapor is liquefied. The condensate formed in condenser II flows through a U-tube 24, vessel 25 and conduit 2! to the top part of evaporator I2.

The evaporator l2 includes a plurality of horizontal banks of tubes 21 disposed one above'the other and to which are secured heat transfer iins 22 to provide a relatively extensive heat transfer surface. The liquid flowing to evaporator i2 is divided in any suitable manner for flow through the uppermost bank of tubes 21. The dividing of liquid may be effected by providing a liquid distributing trough 28 into which the liquid flows able end connections II which are open to permit escape of vapor from the tubes, and any excess liquid is discharged from the bottom bank of tubes 21.

The refrigerant evaporates in evaporator I2 to produce a refrigerating'or cooling ffect with consequent absorption of heat from the surroundings. as from a stream of air flowing over the exterior surfaces of the evaporator. The refirigerant vapor formed in evaporator I2 iiows therefrom to the absorber It into which absorption liquid is introduced at the top part through a conduit SI.

- The absorption liquid is discharged from the upper end of conduit II into a vessel 22 in which liquid is distributed laterally or crosswise of a V plurality of vertically disposed pipe banks 34 which are arranged alongside of each other. The liquid flows from the center part of vessel 33 into laterally disposed end chambers 35 and thence through conduits 36 to a plurality of liquid holders and distributors 31 which extend lengthwise of and above the uppermost horizontal tubes of the pipe banks 34. Absorption liquid is siphoned over the walls of the liquid holders 31 to effect wetting of the uppermost horizontal tubes. Liquid drips from each horizontal tube onto each next lower tube, so that all of the tubes are wetted by a film of liquid.

The absorber l4 and condenser constitute heat rejecting parts of the refrigeration system and are cooled by a suitable cooling fluid, such as water, for example, which enters the bottom parts of the pipe banks 34 through a conduit 38 and manifold 39, and leaves the top part of the pipe banks through a manifold 40 and conduit 4|. The conduit 4| is connected to condenser ll so that the same cooling fluid can be utilized to cool the absorber l4 and condenser l the cooling fluidthen leaving the condenser through a conduit 42.

The refrigerant vapor is absorbed into absorption liquid in absorber l4 and the solution flows from the latter through a conduit 43, a first passage in liquid heat exchanger 44, conduit 45, vessel 46 and conduit 41 into the bottom space H of generator l0. Refrigerant vapor is expelled out of solution in generator II) by heating, and liquid is raised by gas or vapor-lift action in riser tubes l6, as explained above.

Absorption liquid from which refrigerant vapor has been expelled flows from vessel l8 througha conduit 48, a second passage in liquid heat exchanger 44, and conduit 3| to the top part of absorber l4. The upper part of vessel 46 and vessel l8 are connected by a conduit 49, so that the pressure in vessel 46 is equalized with the pressure in the top part of generator I0 and condenser II.

The system operates at low pressures with the generator Ill and condenser operating at one pressure and the evaporator |2 and'absorber l4 operating at a lower pressure, the pressure differential between these parts being maintained by liquid columns. Thus, the liquid column formed in U-tube 24 maintains the pressurev differential between condenser II and evaporator |2, the liquid column in conduit 43 maintains the pressure differential between the outlet of absorber l4 arid generator l0, and the liquid column formed in conduits 3| and 48 maintains the "pressure differential between the inlet of the absorber and the upper part of generator ii. In operation, the liquid columns may form in conduits 43, 48, and down-leg of tube 24 to the levels :r, y and z, for example. The conduits are of such size that restriction to gas flow is effected without appreciably restricting flow of liquid.

After the system is charged with a suitable water solution of refrigerant in absorption liquid, the system isevacuated in any suitable manner, as, for example, by a vacuum pump connected to the outer end of a conduit 50' which is in communication with the bottom part of condenser II, as will be described presently. A suitable valve 5| is provided in conduit 50' to keep the system at the evacuated low pressure.

During operation of the refrigeration system, noncondensible gases may collect in condenser ll, evaporator l2 and absorber M. The noncondensible gases in the lower pressure side of the system are carried to the bottom part of absorber M by the sweeping action of the entering refrigerant vapor. By sweeping action it is meant that a downward movement is imparted to the noncondensible gases by the high velocity of the refrigerant vapor flowing into the absorber.

The non-condensible gases that may accumu- I late in the absorber H the pressure therein in creases, and, since the evaporator I2 is in open communication withthe absorber, the evaporator pressure also rises. This increase in pressure is objectionable because of the resulting rise of the evaporator temperature and the fact that the effectiveness of the absorber is impaired by the non-condensible gases occupying a part of the absorber space.

The-non-condensible gases are transferred from absorber M to condenser II by diverting from conduit 3| into conduit a small portion of the absorption liquid flowing toward the absorber. The diverted liquid flows through conduit 5|] into the bottom part of a vessel 5| whichpreferably is provided with a suitable orifice to restrict the flow of the diverted liquid. The liquid level in vessel 5| intermittently rises and falls due to the siphoning action that takes place in the upper part of a conduit 52 connected to the top part of the vessel 5|. During the times when the liquid level falls in vessel 5| below the top part of conduit 52, any noncondensible gas flowing into the vessel through conduit 53 from the bottom part of absorber I5, can pass into the upper bent or curved portion of conduit 52. With subsequent rise of liquid level a small volume of non-condensible gas is trapped and siphoned downwardly in conduit 52. The small volumes of non-condensible gases withdrawn from the bottom part of absorber H in this manner are trapped between successive bodies or slugs of liquid formed at the upper bent part of vertical conduit 52. The conduit 52 is of such size that gas and liquid cannot freely pass each other during flow therethrough, and, as the slugs of liquid and trapped gas pass downwardly in the conduit, the gas is compressed. From the lower end of conduit 52 the gas passes upwardly through liquid in a chamber 54 and then flows through a conduit 55 into conduit 23. The non-condensible gases entering conduit 23 are swept into the upper part of condenser II by the expelled vapor flowing upwardly from generator III at a relatively high velocity.

The absorption liquid entering chamber 54 through conduit 52 overflows through .conduit 55 to join absorption liquid flowing from absorber l4 through conduit 43. The arrangement just described for transferring non-condensible gases from absorber H to condenser H is described in Anderson application Serial No. 390,872, filed April 29, 1941, and, if desired, reference may be made thereto for a more detailed description of ,the manner in which transfer of gases to conciated with the refrigeration system.

than in the absorber. However, the presence of non-condensible gases in condenser II is undesirable because such gases reduce the effective condensing surface.

In accordance with this invention a shell or cartridge 81 is connected by a conduit 88 to the bottom part of condenser II. The conduit 88 is connected to the top part of shell 81, and to the bottom part of the shell is connected a vertically extending conduit 88 having the upper end thereof connected to conduit 88. To the bottom part of shell 81 is also connected a tube 88 provided with a fitting which is flxed to a bracket 8|. The bracket 8| may be connected to a suitable support 8|, such as a frame member, for example, asso- The upper part of tube 88 is connected'to valve 8| and conduit 80' to which a suitable vacuum pump is adapted to be connected for evacuating the refrigeration system, as described above.

Within the shell 81 is disposed a sleeve or tubular member 82 adapted to receive a heating element 88 which is connected by conductors 88 and 88 to a suitable source of electrical energy. In the space within shell 81 and about the sleeve 82 is arranged a stack of cupric oxide plates 88. The plates 88 are annular or ring-shaped with the inner peripheral edges fltting snugly against the sleeve 82 between rings 81 which hold the plates inspaced relation. The outer peripheral portions of the plates 86 are bent to form aligned flanges, as indicated at 88 in Fig. 2, the outer flanges serving as stiffeners for the plates and also acting to keep the plates in the desired spaced relation over their entire areas.

In practice I have found that plates 88 formed of copper hardware cloth of about mesh are highly satisfactory. The plates 88 are of such size that the flanges 88 are spaced from the wall of the shell 81 when the plates are positioned in the shell. All parts of the shell 81 including the top and bottom, and also the sleeve 82, are preferably formed of copper. The plates 88 are first positioned on the sleeve 82 between the spacer rings 81, the plates being held in place at one end by the part serving as. the top of the shell 81. The bottom end of sleeve 82 is then distorted slightly to hold the plates 88 together. The assembly of parts Just described forms an insert which is then subjected to oxidation. The plates are preferably oxidized about 80 to 85 per cent in order to leave some pure copper wiring in the plates for the purpose of stiifening and supporting the plates. After'oxidizing the plates 88, a

cap 88 is secured to the lower end of sleeve 82, as by silver soldering.'for example, and the insert in its entirety is positioned within shell 81. To hold the insert rigidly in place the part thereof serving as the top is secured at 10 to the upper edge of shell 81, as by silver soldering, for example.

During operation of the refrigeration system, the non-condensible gases transferred from ab-. sorber N to condenser II, and also the 7 noncondensible gases collecting in condenser II, are carried to the dead or far end of the condenser by the sweeping effect of the expelled refrigerant vapor flowing into the condenser. By connecting the shell 81 to the dead or far end of condenser ll, free access of the non-condensible gases to the cupric oxide in shell 81 is provided. The gases swept to the bottom part of condenser ll pass by diffusion through conduit 88 into shell 81. By heatingthe sleeve 82 and plates 88 secured hereto. upward now of gas is induced through the stack of cupric oxide plates 88. The provision of conduit 88 permits gas to flow downwardly in this conduit and thence upwardly through the interior of shell 81, so that a circuit'is provided in which gas is continuously circulated by thermal convection.

The cupric oxide reacts withhydrogen gas, the speed of the chemical reaction being hastened by heating the shell 81 by the heating element 88 to a suitable elevated temperature, such as 500 F.,

for example. Metallic copper and water are formed as a result of the chemical reaction taking place in shell 81, such water being formed in vapor phase and passing by diffusion through conduit 88 into condenser II in which it is cooled and liquefied.

In the event that oxygen is swept into the dead or far end of condenser Ii and then passes into shell 81, the metallic copper will react with the oxygen to form cupric oxide. In this manner both hydrogen and oxygen can be removed in the event these gases collect in the refrigeration system.

The shell 81 with the stack of cupric oxide plates therein provides an arrangement whereby a relatively large contact area is presented to gas flowing through the shell. The cupric oxide being in perforated sheet form provides a large surface area without appreciably blocking the flow of gas. The gas is permitted to come in contact with the material and at the same time a path of flow for gas is provided at the shell wall which is substantially free and clear of any obstruction. The well or recess formed by the sleeve 82 permits the heating eflect to be transmitted more or less uniformly from the heating element 88 to the plates 88 which are held in good thermal conductive relation with the sleeve 82 by the spacer rings 81.

The cupric oxide plates 88 are held in spaced relation on the sleeve 82 which in turn is carried by the top of the shell 81. With this arrangement the cupric oxide plates are replaceable by merely disuniting the top of the shell from the cylindrical portion thereof and inserting another assembled stack of cupric oxide plates. In the event the shell is subject to shock or vibration, any shock or vibration is not readily transmitted to the more or less fragile cupric oxide plates 88 because these plates are spaced from all of the shell walls except at the top at which region the sleeve 82 and the plates are supported.

While a single embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it will be apparent that modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope and-spirit of 3. In a refrigeration system of an absorption type having a plurality of interconnected parts, one of said parts providing a chamber, and an ing an element and a plurality of annular-shaped cupric oxide plates mounted on and disposed about said element.

4. In a refrigeration system of an absorption type having a plurality of interconnected parts, structure providing a chamber, a first conduit connecting the upper part of said chamber and the gas space of one of said parts, a second conduit connecting said first conduit and the bottom part of said chamber, a substance in said chamber capable of reacting chemically with a noncondensible gas which may accumulate in the system, and means to efiect heating of said chamber to cause circulation of gas through said chamber and said firstand second conduits by thermal convection.

5. In a refrigeration system of an absorption type having a plurality of interconnected parts,

and detachable therefrom, said insert comprising an element and a plurality of plates mounted, thereon, said plates being formed of a material capable of reacting chemically with a noncondensible gas that may accumulate in the 1 system to effect removal of such gas.

'7. In a refrigeration system of an absorption type having a plurality of interconnected parts, one ofsaid parts providing a chamber, and structure including a plurality of cupric oxide plates disposed in said chamber, said plates being formed from sheeting, such as copper hardware cloth, for example.

8. In a refrigeration system of an absorption type having a plurality of interconnected parts, one of said parts providing a chamber, and structure including a plurality of cupric oxide screens disposed in said chamber, said screens being oxidized at least 20 per cent and less than per cent so that the pure copper remaining in said screens serves as stifieners for said screens.

9. For use with a refrigeration system, structure providing a chamber and adapted for connection to the gas space of the system in such a manner that hydrogenthat may accumulate in the system can flow into the chamber, and a stack of cupric oxide sheets in said chamber, said sheets being formed of oxidized copper screening and being capable of reacting chemically with the hydrogen to efiect removal of the hydrogen.

WALTER CROPPER. 

